logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
31m 13s

EMQs: Special Advisers, tuition fees and...

Persephonica
About this episode

Welcome to our first edition of EMQs - Ex-Ministers' Questions... see what we did there?. Every Monday, our ex-ministers will take your questions. Ed Balls and George Osborne will also hear from some influential and famous voices.


In our first episode: did the Lib Dems agree to ditch their pledge on tuition fees during the coalition talks? What is the Barnett formula and is it fair? And why are Special Advisers such as Dominic Cummings so influential?


To send in your questions for next week's episode, email questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk - we love to get your voice notes!


Follow us on social media: @polcurrency

Producers: Rachel Balmer and Rosie Stopher

Production Manager: Flick Heath

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford


Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and part of the Acast Creator Network

Subscribe now on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 7
EMQs: Our Keir Year, modern Machiavellis and fairness in politics
What is a fair way to govern? In response to a long time listener who feels a victim of his own success – disproportionately hit by taxes and ineligible for certain benefits – Ed Balls explains three different philosophical concepts of ‘fairness’. George Osborne meanwhile dismiss ... Show More
37m 57s
Jul 3
Week from Hell for Reeves and Starmer
Some incredible scenes in PMQs this week - in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves was openly crying - has Ed Balls and George Osborne considering just how bad things have got for the Labour government. Mere days after a dramatic climbdown over welfare reform, when the watered-down bil ... Show More
56m 6s
Jun 30
EMQs: Can the G20 still keep the peace?
Is the G20 still a force for peace and diplomacy, or just a stage for political performance? Ed Balls and George Osborne kick off this week’s EMQs with a question about nuclear non-proliferation and whether South Africa should push it up the agenda this year.The pair then turns t ... Show More
43 m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 13
Reeves sets Labour’s course – but what will it deliver?
Labour’s long-awaited spending review dropped this week. Rachel Reeves unveiled funding settlements for government departments – and a newly upbeat tone after the gloomy promise of hard times in her previous Commons set pieces. The NHS and defence were prioritised but other depar ... Show More
34m 49s
Aug 2024
This Week In Australia With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had a busy week. From steering the country through an upgraded terror threat, to announcing a pay win for Early Childhood educators, there's a lot to catch up on in Australian politics.  Today the PM sits down with Claire Murphy for an exclusiv ... Show More
26m 39s
Oct 2024
332. Rachel Reeves' Budget: How does it affect you?
Is Labour's first budget a success or failure for the new government? How does it compare to previous budgets? Did Rachel Reeves alter her proposals from pre-election? Rory and Alastair come together to answer all your budget related questions in today's emergency budget episode. ... Show More
45m 50s
Jan 2025
362. Question Time: Labour’s education error and Blair’s mistake on mental health
Why are students protesting in Serbia? Is Labour right to scrap financial support for Latin in state schools? What does Alastair think about Tony Blair’s comments on mental health? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in today's Question Time. The Re ... Show More
46m 11s
Aug 2024
304. Question Time: Could Trump try and subvert the US election results?
Why is there civil unrest in Slovakia and Bulgaria? Are they legitimate tools at Trump’s disposal to subvert an election result? Do we have the technology to fact check debates in real time? Rory and Alastair answer all these questions and more on this week's Question Time. 🌏 Ge ... Show More
52m 44s
Jul 2024
86. Nick Clegg: Coalition, Cameron, and Chaos (Part 1)
What closed-doors conversations led to the 2010 coalition? What were the coalition years like? How did it all go wrong for the Liberal Democrats in 2015? Rory and Alastair are joined by Nick Clegg to discuss all this and more. If you'd like to hear the second episode RIGHT NOW, i ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
331. Question Time: Murdoch or Musk — who has more power?
Why does the UK ignore Irish politics? Should Labour implement Leveson 2, and what should your 7 year-old ask a Tory MP, according to Alastair? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's Question Time. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse ... Show More
36m 57s
Mar 2025
383. Question Time: Farage vs. Reform, is Labour still socialist, and how to ‘out-Trump’ Trump
What’s going on inside Reform UK? Should Europe expel Hungary from the EU? Is there anything socialist left about Labour? Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all of this and more. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Fuse are giving away FREE TRIP+ membership for all ... Show More
57m 9s
Dec 2024
351. Question Time: Geopolitics in Crisis
Why did the president of South Korea announce martial law this week? What does the result of the Romanian elections spell for Europe? How can Georgia resolve the protests happening there? Rory and Alastair answer all these questions and more in this week's Question Time. The Rest ... Show More
48m 6s
Aug 2024
298. Question Time: Venezuela’s fate, Hezbollah’s response, and how prisoner swaps really work
What impact have US sanctions had on Venezuela? Is Tom Tugendhat a Tory Keir Starmer? How should Hezbollah respond to attacks without risking domestic support? Rory and Alastair answer all these questions and more on this week's Question Time. TRIP Plus:Become a member of The Res ... Show More
46m 32s